East meets West and

the air is warmer

From an Apia correspondent

A one-day meeting between West ern Samoa’s Prime Minister Mataafa and Governor John Haydon of American Samoa forecasts closer union between the two Samoas sepa rated by 75 miles of the Pacific Ocean.

Mataafa went to Pago Pago at the beginning of July and talked about mutual problems and areas of mutual help.

The value of the talk probably lay in the subjects covered rather than on decisions made because in only a few fields was agreement reached. Ameri can Samoa has agreed to open the door a little wider to Western Samoans, removing a grievance the Western Samoans have held for years.

Under American Samoa immigra tion laws, the brothers across the water had to have permits to enter what many of them regard as just another part of the same country while American Samoans had free entry into Western Samoa for up to three days duration.

The American Samoan Immigra tion Board agreed at the meeting to a six-month trial period allowing Western Samoans free entry for up to seven days, effective from July 10.

A jubilant Mataafa declared after the meeting, “This topic typifies best of all the value there is in these meetings and the benefits that come from discussion. We in Western Samoa, because our legislation pro vides for permit-free entry for up to three days, might have thought the American Samoa position unfair.

“These discussions have, however, given us the opportunity to learn the reasons for their position and to make representation about it. There are good reasons for their views”.

The only other decisions arrived at, according to an Apia release, were closer co-operation in agricul ture —pest control and sharing ferti liser imports—a suggested partner ship in a brewery and joint pro motion of the two Samoas in the world of tourism.